U.S. flags fly at half-staff as residents remember Harrison

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, December 26, 2001

American flags at all city facilities will fly at half-staff the remainder of the week as a tribute to former Mayor John Ray Harrison who died of complications Saturday following a scheduled surgery.

"This is something we do on a local level to recognize people who have made important contributions to the city," said city spokesman Dave Benson.

Though federal guidelines to lower the flag to half-staff on a national level were set in 1954, there is no set protocol for recognizing individuals locally. However, Benson said, the current administration was able to set a precedent by lowering the flag to half-staff upon the recent death of former council member Gene "Iggy" Garrison.

Mayor John Manlove, who won the mayor's race against Harrison in May, said Harrison had become a valuable friend during the months following the election, and that the former mayor came by his office to offer his advice and friendship on a weekly basis.

"After the race was over, he was there to support me," Manlove said. "I'm going to miss not being able to call him from time to time."

Manlove also said Harrison thrived on assisting other politicians by offering his support throughout their campaigns.

Recently, Harrison had offered Manlove and other city officials assistance with transportation issues and attaining another hospital for the city. He had also mentioned possibly running for a state representative position in Deer Park, though local officials said he would stay in Pasadena where his contributions have been so valuable.

Long-time acquaintance David Turner stated that during Harrison's terms as mayor, he did more for area residents and children than any other city of Pasadena mayor.

After Harrison graduated with a degree in physical education, he played professional baseball for two years before moving to Pasadena to become a teacher and coach for the Pasadena Independent School District, said friend and former co-worker Charles Easterling. Easterling taught Harrison while he attended school at the South Texas School of Law and later worked as the city attorney under his administration.

"He was gifted with athletic ability toward baseball," Easterling said. "His life was working with children in athletics. All these other things just afforded him a monetary living. Instead of presiding over district court with a gavel, he always used a small baseball bat, but that was just his life."

Easterling described Harrison as "the most honest man" he knew, someone who constantly worked to make Pasadena a better place to live. Improving education was also always a key goal of his, Easterling said.

Harrison was the longest-running mayor to serve in Pasadena, leaving the mayor's office for the last time in 1991. He also served as a council member, a state representative and a district judge.

"I think we've lost a city patriot," Manlove said. "I'm going to miss him. As long as I've known Pasadena, there's been John Ray Harrison."

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church at 1062 Fairmont Parkway. He will be buried at The State Cemetery in Austin at 4 p.m. today. In lieu of remembrances, donations may be made to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, TIRR Foundation, 5100 Travis, Houston, Texas 77002-9746.